Under 19s
Seventeen years old, Eliza started playing netball in grade 2 at St Mary’s Primary School. Shortly after, Eliza moved to the Colac Imperials where she played until she was 14 in both juniors and A grade, then moved to the Colac Tigers to play junior and seniors again. In between, Eliza has played for Barwon Region teams, CDFNL Interleague teams, Geelong Flyers, Geelong Cougars and made the top 25 for state in 2019.
Her parents are Eliza’s biggest influence on her netball career, driving countless hours to games, trainings and trials. They give her constant motivation and support to keep trying and bettering her skills, not only with netball but in her personal life as well.
Something that not many people know about Eliza is that in 2017 she was fortunate enough to travel to Hawaii with netfit netball alongside Sarah wall, Kim green and Laura Langman to train and play netball with some other girls for around 10 days.
Sixteen years old, Darcy has been playing netball since she was four years old and has never looked back. In 2011, Darcy started playing for representative teams playing for the GFL, Geelong Flyers, Barwon Region as well as being a part of Netball Victoria’s Zone Academy program. Being a social butterfly – Darcy loves meeting new people on and off the court as well as hanging out with friends on the weekend. Darcy loves that the game gives you a chance to improve yourself physically and mentally.
Ava started her netball career with Torquay Tigers U/11’s in the BFNL before moving to Port Fairy in 2015, where she continues to represent the PFFNC in the Hampden Football Netball League at both junior and senior levels. Ava’s netball acheivements include 2017 U/15 HFNL Premiership, HFNL Rising Star finalist in 2017, Dual Club and HFNL League B&F in 2016 and 2018, HFNL Association Championships Representative for 2016, 2017, 2018, Western Region Representative in the State League Championships 2017 2018 and Netball Vic Zone/ Talent Academy Player 2018 and the upcoming year. With netball being such a huge part of Ava’s life, the thing she loves most about the game is how competitive and aggressive the play is, with strong drives and body positioning. Ava loves that every player has an equally valuable role to play for the team to win and enjoys the bonds and connections you make with team mates.
Having played and continuing to play such a vital in Ava’s life, her mum is her biggest fan, always supporting and believing in her, and continues to encourage Ava to build the intensity and aggressive/competitive spirit she brings to the court. Outside of netball Ava plays basketball, listens to music and socialises with friends. She loves a bit of a dance and a singalong, as well as beach time with my family.
Seventeen years old, Georgia has been playing netball at Newtown since juniors and has represented her school on many occasions. Georgia’s favourite part of the game is being in a team environment and being challenged. Her favourite netball achievement was getting the opportunity to take the court playing along Newtown’s unbeatable A grade senior side!
Kiahna is sixteen years old and started playing netball at South Barwon Football Netball Club when she was 11 years old where she has been playing ever since. Kiahna played in the GFNL and the Barwon Region representative teams over the past four years as well as playing with the Geelong Flyers. Her favourite part about netball is the people you meet and the fact that you get to work in a team to achieve something together. Kiahna’s favourite netball achievement to date is making it into Geelong Cougars. Outside of netball, Kiahna works at Schnitz and enjoys spending time with friends and family and a fact that not many people would know is that Kiahna was born with extra fingers, one on each hand next to her pinky finger. She had them removed when she was a couple of months old.
Sixteen year old Brooke began playing netball for her Durack Primary School team in Darwin 2015, followed by Federals Netball Club Alice Springs from 2015 to 2019. Brooke has already achieved so much at such a young age, including representing Northern Territory at National Netball Champions in 2017 & 2018, where she was chosen in the 17 & U Australian National Netball Squad in 2018.
Brooke’s favourite thing about netball is the feeling she gets when intercepting a pass, and believes the person who has had the most influencer on her career to-date is Australian Diamond Caitlyn Thwaites.
Outside of netball Brooke enjoys going to the gym and hanging with her friends, and says one thing not many know about her is that she is a twin!
Brooke Wilson
GS/GA
Seventeen years old, Charlotte started playing netball at 10 years old and played for two teams; Lake Wendouree and Brown Hill. She played for these clubs all through juniors while also playing in Ballarat representative teams, and then played into their senior grades. Charlotte’s favourite thing about netball is meeting so many new people and so many friends, of all ages, through the sport. Her older sister has had a big influence on Charlotte’s netball career, if her sister didn’t start playing it first with her friends, Charlotte probably would never have started playing it as early or as young as she did. Charlotte’s favourite netball achievement was making it into the state under 17 team and winning the Athlete’s Foot Cup with her team.
Charlotte Todd
WD/C
Lily is eighteen years and has competed in netball for 10 years, starting at Alvie Netball Club in juniors. Lily progressed to the Flyers Program along with representing Barwon Region state titles team whilst playing seniors at her local club. Lily loves how netball allows you to constantly see improvement in yourself along with your teammates which makes it a rewarding experience. Lily’s mum had a big influence on her netball career, as she sacrifices a lot of time through driving her to trainings and games. Lily’s greatest netball achievements have been winning 7 junior grand finals and an A grade grand final with her 2 older sisters.
Lily Eldridge
GK/GD
At age eighteen, Madison started her netball career playing in defence at 10 years old. Madison was asked to play in goals because of her height and found her niche under the ring. At North Ballarat, Madison formed part of a very successful team winning every premiership from U12 to U17, playing her first A Grade game with North Ballarat as a 16-year-old in attack. Madison also played at Hepburn, winning consecutive junior premierships in the Central Highland league, made a brief appearance for the Sovereigns in 2018 and in the off-season, she plays for Eureka Netball Club in the Premier league. Madison is looking forward to taking her netball career a step higher with the Geelong Cougars in 2020!
Madison likes to relax when she’s not playing sport and you can usually find her watching old TV series and movies. Madison is starting University this year studying Nursing so maybe there will be less movies and more study…
Madison Selmon
GS/GA
Remi started playing netball when she was just 9 years old for her local Ballarat competition-Brown Hill Netball Club. She went on to play in the Ballarat Football/Netball league at North Ballarat Football/Netball club for 9 years, winning 9 Premierships! Remi loves playing netball with her friends, meeting new people, learning and growing her netball experience. The biggest influence on her netball career has been her many coaches throughout her junior career, in particular Prue Douglass and Katie Williams. Outside of netball, Remi enjoys playing tennis, going to the beach, travelling with friends and family and her part time work.
Remi Hooper
GD/WD
Seventeen years old, Zara started playing netball at the Colac Tigers when she was 11 years old and has progressed through all junior grades and has now been playing A grade for the past 2 years. Zara has played in Geelong rep teams, Flyers,Geelong Grammar and has recently made the U/17 Vic team. Zara loves the competitiveness of netball and making new friendships. Her mum has been the biggest influence on her netball career with her support and her knowledge. Zara’s netball highlights include making the U/17 Vic team this year and playing in the A grade finals for Colac in the GFL last year.
Zara Walters
C/WD
Now sixteen years old, Emma began junior netball with Allansford FNC. During her time with the club she played U/13, U/15, A Reserve and A Grade. Emma won U13 BF, U15 BF twice, Rising Star in Seniors, A Reserve BF and A Grade Runners up. In 2018, she also played U15 for South Warrnambool and in 2019 her team won the premiership for U17. The last 2 years Emma has played for Hampden League Representative Team and Western Region State Team and she has been a part of the Western Region Talent Academy for the last years. Emma loves the preparation and the nervous energy you feel before a game as well as the competitive nature and the feeling you get after a good win. Emma’s sister Georgie had the biggest influence on her netball career because when Emma was little, she would follow everything thing her big sister did.
Emma Stacey
GK/GD
Extended Squad
The Extended Squad program is a new initiative for the Geelong Cougars in 2018. The program aimes to provide an insight for players about the requirements of competing at VNL level, along with further development and coaching to support players in taking the next step in their netball journey. All Extended Squad players are invited to participate in the full pre-season program, including the strength and conditioning sessions.
Once the season commences, training sessions will be tailored to suit the club’s needs and the necessary development goals of Extended Squad players, with their involvement tailored accordingly.
At just seventeen years old, Olivia has played with teams such as the Westside saints, Central west zone academy, RDFNL A grade, AGSV/ PEGS and has competed in the Elmer state titles. Her favourite thing about the game is seeing how much not on the team but each player has improved from the start to then end of a season. Olivia’s favourite achievement both team and personal is winning association championships with Westside. Outside of netball Olivia enjoys water skiing and going to the movies.
Olivia Taylor
WD/C
Tess Campigli
GA/WA
Sixteen year old Maddison has been playing netball since primary school for Montpellier. Now Madison has played for South Barwon since U13s, currently a part of their U17 team. Maddison has been with Geelong flyers for 3 seasons now and we love having her apart of our side. Maddison’s favourite thing about netball is the people and friends she has met over the years, and the competitiveness of the game.
The one person Maddison looks up to in the netball career is Sharni Layton because she constantly backs herself and knows what she is capable of. Maddison’s favourite team achievement is winning the grand final against the team they were scared to play. Her favourite personal achievement was getting best on court in her U19s grand final.
A very interesting fact that we may not know about Maddison is that her brother represents Australia in ten pin bowling.